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Riots trial spurs courts lockdown
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 29th May 2008
BAHRAIN’s courts were again under lockdown yesterday with police barricades blocking the Justice Ministry entrance for the trial of 15 men accused of rioting, stealing police weapons and hurling Molotov cocktails.
However, there were emotional scenes inside a packed High Criminal Court as the men were allowed to embrace their wives and mothers during a break.
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Riots trial spurs courts lockdown
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 29th May 2008
BAHRAIN’s courts were again under lockdown yesterday with police barricades blocking the Justice Ministry entrance for the trial of 15 men accused of rioting, stealing police weapons and hurling Molotov cocktails.
However, there were emotional scenes inside a packed High Criminal Court as the men were allowed to embrace their wives and mothers during a break.
The men are facing charges of rioting during the Eid and National Day holidays and two others are accused of stealing guns, while two are accused of stealing two ammunition magazines.
One has also been charged with obtaining and possessing a gun and 14 stand accused of torching a police car with Molotov cocktails.
During a previous hearing on May 11, relatives of two of the men provided alibis for them and claimed they could not have been involved.
The wife and friend of a third defendant took to the stand yesterday to testify that he was at home at the time of the violence.
“He came home from work after the rioting started and stayed with me all night,” his wife told the court.
“He didn’t leave the house even for a minute.”
The same man’s friend claimed he was actually with him when the protests started, but returned home to be with his wife.
“He left after the riot broke out and headed straight home,” the friend told the judge.
“He was worried about his wife, who was stuck at home because the riot broke out near their house.
“When we heard news of the incident he immediately left to check up on her and when I called him a few minutes later he was with her at their house.”
His lawyer Sami Seyadi later claimed the defendant confessed to taking part in the violence under duress and was “coerced into making confessions before the prosecution”.
Three lawyers acting on behalf of some of the defendants submitted their defence papers to the court yesterday.
However, the court adjourned the case until June 18 to give the other lawyers time to submit their arguments.
During the hearing, the doors of the courtroom were locked and there was a heavy police presence inside the court complex in the Diplomatic Area.
The GDN reported after the last hearing that court-appointed doctors had dismissed their earlier findings that the men had been physically abused in police custody.
However, they did conclude the men had suffered mental abuse – saying they were reluctant to talk, did not engage with other inmates and reported having flashbacks. noor@gdn.com.bh
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© Gulf Daily News
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=218745&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31070
